Life-saving cap



(No Model.)

- A. MBNDELSON.

LIFE SAVING GAP.

Patented Mar. 5,1895.-

WITNESSES; INVENTEIR;

ALBERT MENDELSON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

LIFE-SAVING CAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,143, dated March 5, 1895.

Application filed August 11,1894:- Serial No. 520,063. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT MENDELSON, a subject of the Czar of Russia, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Saving Caps, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention consists of a cap provided with a depending cape having an opening in front and constructed of double air-tight and water-proof material whereby an air-space is formed therein, and a valve for admitting air to said space and preventing the escape of the same.

The object of myimprovement is to provide a convenient life-saving cap which may be Worn on the head, or carried in the pocket, where there is danger from drowning, said cap having a depending cape capable of being quickly and easily inflated with a sufiicient amount of air to support the head of the wearer when in the water.

The inflated cape of my cap supports the head in such a manner that the nose is always outof water While, at the same time, the mouth and ears are protected, and there is little or no danger of displacement since said cap and cape fit the head and neck so closely.

That my invention may be seen and fully understood by others, reference will be had to the following specification and annexed drawings forming a part thereof, in which Figure l is a front view of my invention; Fig. 2, a side view of the same; Fig. 3, a vertical section, the cape being inflated; Fig. 4, a side View of the cap with the cape drawn up and folded around the same; Fig. 5, a front View of the valve; Fig. 6, a side view of the same; Fig. 7, a side view of the valve-stem; Fig. 8, a rear view of said valve; Fig. 9, a longitudinal section of the valve, closed; Fig. 10, a similar view showing the valve open; Fig. 11, a cross-section of the cape on line 00, as, Fig. 3, and Figs. 12 and 13, views showing modifications of said invention.

Similar figures of reference designate like parts in the drawings and specification.

The cap 1 may be of any style and material desired and is provided with the depending cape 2. The cape 2 is made of the two thicknesses 2 and 2 of any suitable air-tight and water-proof material as rubber-cloth, in which case the rubber surfaces are inside or contiguous. the inner thickness 2 is the air-space 3 entirely surrounding the cape 2. In Figs. 3 and 1] the thicknesses 2 and 2 are shown separated as they would appear if the space 3 between them were filled with air, but in the absence of said air said thicknesses would be contiguous. Cut in the front of the cape 2 is the opening 4 which exposes the nose and upper part of the face when said cape and the cap 1 are worn. The cape 2 is cemented to the lower part of the cap 1 and the air-space 3 is completed by cementing the thicknesses 2 and 2 together at the opening 4, as indicated by the dotted lines 5. For convenience in manufacturing the edges of the thicknesses 2 and 2 are respectively cemented together up the back, as illustrated at 6 in Figs. 1 and 11. The cemented portions of the cape 2 may be first stitched if desired, to secure greater strength. Ordinarily the cape 2 can be folded into the crown of the cap 1 and thus worn, or the same may be drawn up and folded about the outside of said cap, as shown in Fig. 4.

In the front of the cape 2, below the opening 4 and convenient to the mouth of the wearer, is a valve which penetrates the inner thickness 2 only, opening into the space 3. The valve shown in the drawings consists of the seal 7 having the annular groove 7 in its outside periphery, and the threaded stem 8.

The seal 7 is received into a hole in the inside thickness 2 and the edges of said hole enter the groove 7, said seal being cemented to saidthickness. The seal 7 has within it the chamber 9, the walls of which being threaded near their inner ends to receive thethreaded portion of the stem 8, and the passage 10 connecting said chamber with the air-space 3. The stem 8 has the thumb-piece 8 at one end and the central passage 11 extending from the inner face of said thumb-piece to within a short distance of the opposite end of said stem where said passage turns and opens through the side of said stem forward of the threaded portion thereof.

It will now be readily seen that, when the stem 8 is partially unscrewed, as shown in Fig. 10, and the thumb-piece 8 applied to the lips, air may be blown through the passage Between the outer thickness 2" and 11, the chamber 9, and the passage lOinto the space 3 in the cape 2, and it is in this way that said cape is intended to be inflated while aboutthe head of the person wearing the same.

The cape 2 may be filled With air before putting it on, but it is more difficult to adjust the same if greatly extended beforehand. After the thicknesses 2 and 2 have been distended suliiciently, screw the stem 8 down until its outer or rear end closes the mouth of the passage 10 in the seal 7 and no air can escape then from the cape 2.

The air is expelled from the cape 2 by opening the stem 8, as previously described, and gently pressing the thicknesses 2 and 2 together.

I do not wish to confine myself strictly to the Valve herein shown and described since any valve which can be utilized for the purpose of in fiating the cape 2, may be employed without departing from the nature of my invention.

In Fig. 12 the cape 12 is shown, said cape being similar to the cape 2 except that the former is wider at the bottom and may be longer than the latter, and buttons together in front. In Fig. 13 the cape 13 is detachable from the cap 1 being rendered so by means of buttons or hooks at the top of said cape and button-holes or eyes around the lower part of theinside of said cap. Both capes 12 and 13 are essentially like the cape 2, as well in construction as purpose.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, in a life saving cap, of the cap 1, the two thicknesses 2 and 2 of airtight material, arranged to form an air space between, constituting the cape 2, with a valve having the external groove 7, the internal chamber 9, and the passage 10, the walls ofsaid chamber screw-threaded, and the threaded valve-stem 8 terminating in a thumb-piece and provided with the passage 11 piercing the center of said thumb-piece and opening into said chamber through the side of said stem, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT MENDELSON.

Witnesses:

F. A. CUTTER, L. A. STRATTON. 

